Written Answers Friday 4 February 2011

Scottish Executive

Blood Donors

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are in place to encourage people to give blood.

Shona Robison: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) utilise an integrated marketing and communications strategy to recruit and retain blood donors.

  This includes positive proactive PR targeting areas where the blood donation team is visiting; TV and Radio advertising to back up local campaigns, and direct marketing initiatives, to improve recruitment and retention of donors.

  In addition SNBTS has increased the use of new media and online strategies, such as Facebook which now attracts 800 "friends of SNBTS" every month; an annual schools programme which recruits around 7,000 new donors each year, and the development of the website, including the donor session finder.

Civil Servants

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider permanently reducing the ceiling for (a) starting salaries and (b) performance payments for senior civil servants.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government follows Cabinet Office guidance on setting starting salaries. In the majority of cases, these are set at or near the minimum of the pay range. On some occasions, a higher starting salary is offered, where this is required to attract a particular skill set.

  Senior Civil Servants (SCS) pay and performance management operates within a framework set by the Cabinet Office. The framework includes payment ceilings. In 2010, the Scottish Government reduced the ceiling on SCS Performance payments to 50% of the levels awarded the previous year. In 2011, a decision was taken to award no performance payments to the SCS.

Education

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to provide funding for Bookbug, the Scottish Book Trust’s Early Years Programme, in 2011-12.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government greatly values the Scottish Booktrust’s bookgifting programmes for children. We are currently looking at future funding and intend to notify the organisation very shortly of our decision.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive howit will ensure the equal and full involvement of the parents or guardians of pupils attending independent and grant-aided special schools in the review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that parents and guardians are given the opportunity to engage fully and meaningfully in the strategic review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs. The secretariat to the review will shortly be writing to the parents or guardians of pupils attending independent, grant-aided and local authority special schools with details of how they can both be kept informed of the review’s progress and engage with its working groups.

  Communication activity will include a dedicated website for the review, opportunities for anyone with an interest in the review to register an e-mail address for updates and a regular blog from the review chair on the engage for education website. Both the strategic and working groups will consider how to ensure parents and pupils are meaningfully engaged in the review, and will involve parental stakeholders and representatives as necessary. The Scottish Government National Parental Involvement Coordinator is a member of the Strategic Review Group and will provide advice.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive howit will ensure the equal and full involvement in local authority educational consultations of those parents or guardians of pupils attending independent and grant aided special schools who are not represented by parent councils.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not have a role in this area. The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc (Scotland) Act 2000 includes many provisions to make sure that parents are consulted on key issues at both school and education authority level.

  In addition, the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out the list of relevant proposals that must be consulted on by local authorities in line with the act’s provisions. However, this legislation only applies to schools managed by local authorities.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils receive annual fitness checks in school.

Michael Russell: This information is not held centrally.

Employment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14113 by John Swinney on 25 June 2008, what progress has been made in promoting more home and flexi-working in the public sector.

Keith Brown: The expansion of home and flexi-working is closely aligned with a number of the strategic objectives within the National Performance Framework. We have taken it forward as part of our wider travel planning policies to reduce transport emissions by reducing the need to travel. Travel planning delivers targeted information direct to travellers and raises awareness of cycling, walking, public transport, home and flexi-working and how to overcome actual or perceived barriers to their use.

  The Draft Report on Proposals and Policies published on 17 November 2010 addresses the need to reduce travel as well as widening travel choices and driving more efficiently. It provides for a major increase in travel planning advice and information on alternatives to car journeys, including those to work. www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/11/18104445/9.

  The Energy Saving Trust has helped public sector organisations to develop and deliver staff travel planning, over the past five years. This has offered the organisations up to five days consultancy to develop travel planning including policies on home and flexi-working. Nevertheless, policies on home and flexi-working remain an operational matter for individual organisations. They need to consider a number of issues such as business needs as well as HR policies.

  Transport Scotland will also use the lessons learned from the Smarter Choices Smarter Places demonstration programme to work with COSLA, Regional Transport Partnerships and local authorities to consider how best to deliver travel planning post 2010-11.

  The draft Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP) also addresses the need to reduce travel through the provision of mixed-use "community hubs" in smaller settlements. The Scottish Government will undertake further analysis of options for introduction of shared facilities in settlements of population less than 10,000 (of which Scotland has over 100). Equipped for remote working, with ICT and remote office facilities (including video-conferencing suites), such facilities could remove a key reason for travel and reduce travel costs.

  Additionally, these hubs potentially offer an additional range of benefits such as health, education, shopping delivery, post office and other financial services, and storage for ecommerce deliveries.

  The draft RPP is now being considered by Parliament.

Freight

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist those businesses that would have applied for the Freight Facilities Grant, which is due to close on 31 March 2011, and are unable to take advantage of the (a) Mode Shift Revenue Support and (b) Waterborne Freight Grant scheme.

Keith Brown: The scale of the UK Government’s cuts in our overall budget means we have had to make tough decisions which include a reduction in our Support for Freight Industry budget in 2011-12. We are not therefore in a position to provide this direct form of assistance to these businesses next year.

Health

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on developing a referral-to-treatment target to drive faster access to psychological therapies and reduce antidepressant prescribing.

Shona Robison: The HEAT targets for 2011-12 were published in the Local Delivery Plan Guidance on 1 December 2010. This included a HEAT target to improve access to mental health services by delivering 18-week referral-to-treatment for psychological therapies from December 2014.

Health

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities last met and what issues were discussed.

Shona Robison: The Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities last met on Tuesday 13 April 2010. This was the Task Force’s third and final meeting as part of its review of Equally Well . The Task Force considered papers on: Persistent Poverty; Health Inequalities and links to Justice, and the Curriculum for Excellence. It also discussed its report of the review of Equally Well which was subsequently published on 23 June 2010:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22170625/0.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when a report on the responses to its consultation on Housing: Fresh Thinking, New Ideas will be published.

Alex Neil: Homes Fit for the 21st Century: The Scottish Government’s Strategy and Action Plan for Housing in the Next Decade: 2011-2020  was published on 4 February 2011. Copies are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52409).

Income

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of male employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of female employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

John Swinney: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  ASHE estimates are not available by city. Therefore, estimates for the corresponding Local authorities are provided for the six cities in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, and Stirling). Note that local authorities are not ideal proxies for cities in all cases, for example the Highland local authority and the city of Inverness.

  The following table shows the median gross weekly pay for employee by gender in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The median is the recommended measure of average earnings as opposed to the mean.

  Table 1 – Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) for Employee Jobs by Gender

  

Local Authority
Male
Female
All


2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
551.87
556.66
602.13
311.20
336.31
325.28
429.72
442.62
449.02


Dundee City
472.40
471.17
486.91
317.61
325.89
350.12
376.43
376.70
414.34


Edinburgh, City of
485.38
493.99
497.71
369.38
383.30
390.92
423.97
431.60
438.34


Glasgow City
455.06
484.37
473.22
325.99
341.18
344.26
379.20
404.46
402.22


Highland
408.02
451.24
474.66
279.42
271.12
280.91
349.97
352.41
368.84


Stirling
439.16
455.26
507.97
294.98
320.93
328.93
390.30
386.59
406.58


Scotland
465.70
471.04
483.04
303.93
313.02
312.97
375.03
384.49
393.30



  Source: ASHE.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates are based on the number of employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

  2. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error. Care must be taken when interpreting changes over time and differences across categories, especially in Stirling and Highland local authorities.

Income

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time public sector employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time private sector employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time, male, public sector employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time, female, public sector employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time, male, private sector employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time, female, private sector employees in each city in each of the last three years for which information is available.

John Swinney: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which is carried out by the Office for National Statistics.

  ASHE estimates are not available by city. Therefore, estimates for the corresponding Local authorities are provided for the six cities in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, and Stirling). Note that local authorities will not be ideal proxies for cities in all cases, for example the Highland local authority and the city of Inverness.

  When the ASHE sample is split by both gender and public/private sector classification the resulting earnings estimates are not reliable at local authority level. Estimates by gender and public/private sector classification are provided in separate tables.

  Table 1 shows the median gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs by gender in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Table 2 shows the median gross weekly pay for full-time employee jobs by public/private sector classification in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The median is the recommended measure of average earnings as opposed to the mean.

  Table 1: Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs by Gender

  

Local Authority
Male
Female
All


2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
599.65
585.06
640.40
452.21
471.17
480.74
532.13
538.41
576.93


Dundee City
502.70
498.73
507.35
391.41
417.15
418.76
465.36
465.41
482.85


Edinburgh, City of
523.84
535.02
545.15
459.12
483.91
500.75
497.75
513.67
527.74


Glasgow City
495.00
524.17
516.92
411.73
428.45
439.54
459.81
475.97
477.48


Highland
463.52
472.97
508.58
387.11
396.62
381.95
416.10
450.84
457.19


Stirling
452.80
494.38
599.41
458.17
433.24
426.08
454.07
460.25
499.15


Scotland
504.87
509.90
521.54
401.13
420.29
431.21
462.60
472.78
488.17



  Table 2: Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs by Public/Private Sector Classification

  

Local Authority
Public
Private
All


2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010
2008
2009
2010


Aberdeen City
547.19
543.61
587.02
534.00
539.54
583.46
532.13
538.41
576.93


Dundee City
506.86
495.01
539.68
378.04
399.27
420.12
465.36
465.41
482.85


Edinburgh, City of
530.90
567.93
592.36
463.07
448.84
452.10
497.75
513.67
527.74


Glasgow City
509.06
532.82
546.43
426.76
442.63
440.79
459.81
475.97
477.48


Highland
508.54
523.56
526.35
398.32
399.38
399.44
416.10
450.84
457.19


Stirling
421.21
591.16
549.58
412.65
421.48
458.71
454.07
460.25
499.15


Scotland
511.65
538.90
557.52
431.41
431.21
445.20
462.60
472.78
488.17



  Source: ASHE.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates are based on the pay of full-time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was not affected by absence.

  2. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error. Care must be taken when interpreting changes over time and differences across categories, especially in Stirling and Highland local authorities.

Non-Domestic Rates

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the retail premises that will be subject to the proposed business rate supplement are (a) in a town centre, (b) on the edge of town and (c) out of town.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of the retail premises that will be subject to the proposed business rate supplement, broken down by location.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many large retail premises that will be subject to the proposed business rate supplement are appealing the recent revaluation of their rateable value.

John Swinney: It is estimated that around 225 retail properties, accounting for around 0.1 per cent of all non-domestic property in Scotland, will be liable for the proposed large retail supplement. Of the £30 million estimated income from this supplement, around 90 per cent would be due to be paid by supermarkets or by retailers located outwith town or city centres.

  Interpretation of the enabling legislation, the Non-Domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) (No. 3) Regulations 2010, is a matter for each local authority. Rateable values of all retail properties in Scotland, along with addresses and information on whether properties are subject to a valuation appeal, can be found on the Scottish Assessors’ website at www.saa.gov.uk.

Non-Domestic Rates

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the impact on inward investment of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment it has carried out of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises posing a disincentive to expand for businesses below the £750,000 cut off.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it has chosen the retail sector for its proposed increase in business rates.

John Swinney: On balance, it was decided that, in light of the £1.3 billion budget cut from the UK Government, it was only fair to ask some of the largest businesses in Scotland to contribute a little more in business rates income. Increasing the rates paid by the very largest retailers, particularly those not in town centres, will also go some way to help protect small shops in our town centres which can sometimes struggle to compete.

  The proposed £30 million the large retail property supplement will raise amounts to around 0.1 per cent of annual Scottish retail turnover. For those who pay it, it will increase their business rate bills from an average of around 2 per cent of their turnover to around 2.3 per cent.

  Because these proposals impact on only a very small proportion, around 225, or 0.1%, out of over 215,000 non domestic properties in Scotland, it would be disproportionate to carry out a full Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Non-Domestic Rates

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the impact on Scotland’s competitive position, when compared with England and Wales, of its proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises.

John Swinney: The national poundage rate in Scotland matches that in England but is lower than the rate set for Wales. The position in Northern Ireland is not directly comparable.

  Reliefs available in Scotland are by far the most generous in the United Kingdom, worth an estimated £2.4 billion over the five years to 2014-15. Among the reliefs which are more generous than equivalent reliefs offered elsewhere in the UK are the Small Business Bonus Scheme, empty property relief and rural rates relief. Scotland also offers the only renewable energy generators relief available in the UK.

  Taken together, this gives the business community in Scotland a real competitive advantage over the rest of the UK.

Non-Domestic Rates

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed rise to business rates for large retail premises fits with its aim of ensuring that Scotland is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe.

John Swinney: The large retail supplement will increase business rates paid for just 0.1 per cent of properties in Scotland. For those businesses affected, the business rates paid currently account for around 2% of their turnover. With the large retail supplement, this will increase to an estimated 2.3%.

  However, our continuing commitment not to go above the English poundage rate along with our decision to put in place the most generous package of reliefs available in the United Kingdom, worth £2.4 billion over the five years to 2014-15, which removes or reduces business rates for around half of all Scottish businesses, together demonstrates that we are serious in our commitment to make Scotland the most attractive place for doing business in Europe.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of retail price index it used when calculating non-domestic rates revenue for 2011-12 as set out in Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to the Scottish poundage rate not rising above the English poundage rate during the current Scottish Parliament. The calculations underpinning the Draft Budget 2011-12, published on 17 November 2010, were based on a then anticipated inflationary uplift in the poundage rate of 2.5 per cent. The UK Government announced on 14 December 2010 that the uplift for the poundage in England would be 4.6 per cent, and this is now the rate used for the Scottish poundage. The estimated income will be subject to a number of factors including take up of reliefs, appeals and balances in the non-domestic rates income (NDRI) pool.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total non-domestic rates income would be in 2011-12 if the poundage rate were increased by 3% from 2010-11 and how this differs from the estimate in Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

John Swinney: The estimated non-domestic rates income in the Draft Budget 2011-12, published on 17 November 2010, was based on a then anticipated inflationary uplift in the poundage rate of 2.5 per cent. The increase in revenue resulting from a 3.0 per cent uplift in the poundage rate rather than the 2.5 per cent inflationary uplift assumed at the time of the Draft Budget 2011-12 publication would be around £11 million.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what business poundage rate assumptions it used to calculate the non-domestic rates income for 2011-12 at £2,179.5 million.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s estimate of distributable non-domestic rate income for 2011-12 in the Draft Budget 2011-12 is £2,170.5 million. The £2,179.5 million figure published in the Draft Budget includes an additional £9 million for other Annually Managed Expenditure grants as noted in Table 14.01 in Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

  The Scottish Government is committed to the Scottish poundage rate not rising above the English poundage rate during the current Scottish Parliament. The calculations underpinning the Draft Budget 2011-12, published on 17 November 2010, were based on a then anticipated inflationary uplift in the poundage rate of 2.5 per cent.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the non-domestic rates income for 2011-12 will be, broken down by the amount received from businesses paying (a) the poundage rate at 43.3p, (b) the large business supplement, (c) the large retail supplement, (d) the 50% small business bonus, (e) the 25% small business bonus and (f) other discounted rates.

John Swinney: The information requested is given in the following table using updated income estimates except that the actual poundage rate of 42.6p for 2011-12 has been used rather than a rate of 43.3p. A poundage rate of 43.3p would double count the large business supplement of 0.7p.

  Estimated Distributable Amount 2011-12 (£ Million)

  

Description
 


Non-domestic rate income at 42.6p 
2,828.4


plus: Large business supplement (0.7p)
36.9


plus: Large retail supplement 
30


less: total small business bonus scheme relief
-128.4


less: all other reliefs 
-384.2


less: other adjustments²
-212.3


Total estimated distributable amount³
2,170.5



  Notes:

  1. There are three bands of relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme (100%, 50% and 25%) and these are given in total.

  2. Other adjustments include write offs, bad debts collected, back dated reliefs, prior year adjustments and preliminary estimates of adjustments for appeals, all of which are subject to revision as more up to date information becomes available. As a result, the total amount above is also subject to revision from time to time.

  3. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the percentage increase in business rates bills for retail properties with a rateable value greater than £750,000 in 2011-12 compared with 2010-11, expressed in (a) cash and (b) real terms.

John Swinney: At an individual property level, the percentage increase in business rates bills for retail properties that will apply from 2011-12 compared to 2010-11 ranges from between 8.9% in cash terms, or 6.4% in real terms, for those retail properties with a rateable value of more than £750,000 but less than £1,000,000, to 39.1% in cash terms, or 35.8% in real terms, for those retailers with a rateable value over £2,140,000. These figures include both the annual increase in the poundage rate and the proposed new large retail property supplement.

  However, companies liable for the large retail supplement would only pay it on the largest of their properties. For these companies, business rates typically account for around 2% of turnover. In terms of their total business rates bills, the large retail supplement would only generally account for around an additional 0.3% of turnover.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional revenue would be raised if the large retail supplement were increased from 0.7p to 0.8p in 2011-12.

John Swinney: The large retail supplement applies to properties with a rateable value of over £750,000 and involves a range of levels starting at 2.5p. The large business supplement, which applies to properties with a rateable value over £35,000 and has been in place for many years in both Scotland and in England, is currently 0.7p. Increasing the large business supplement from 0.7p to 0.8p would raise an additional estimated £5.3 million in 2011-12. This estimate is before any account is taken of reliefs and appeals, which would reduce the amount.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional revenue would be raised if a new supplement of 0.1p was applied to all properties with a rateable value in excess of £1 million.

John Swinney: It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate. While an estimated £1.7 million could be raised in 2011-12 by applying a 0.1p universal supplement to all property with a rateable value over £1 million, the actual amount would be lower once appeals and reliefs are taken into account.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total rateable value and (b) number of rateable properties will be in 2011-12, broken down by (i) sector and (ii) bands of (A) up to £18,000, (B) £18,001 to £34,999, (C) £35,000 to £49,999, (D) £50,000 to £64,999, (E) £65,000 to £89,999, (F) £90,000 to £119,999, (G) £120,000 to £249,999, (H) £250,000 to £499,999, (I) £500,000 to £999,999 and (J) £1,000,000 and over.

John Swinney: The total number of properties and combined rateable values of all properties broken down by band and sector is as follows.

  

Sector
Zero Rated
(a) Up to £18,000
(b) £18,001 to £34,999


No.
No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value


Advertising
0
1,937
5,645,334
33
832,605


Care Facilities
5
1,624
12,065,760
555
14,172,500


Communications
11
286
961,755
13
315,200


Cultural
23
942
6,401,120
204
5,089,750


Education and Training
8
933
8,566,390
510
13,057,325


Garages and Petrol Stations
9
3,668
17,462,850
359
9,192,575


Health and Medical
9
1,927
14,286,215
416
10,354,900


Hotels
9
3,181
18,890,186
518
13,000,948


Industrial Subjects
68
34,877
177,486,240
4,375
108,918,475


Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.
41
17,107
47,375,870
770
19,264,905


Offices
16
28,022
170,903,588
3,875
97,044,079


Other
6,110
6,212
17,271,462
274
6,783,968


Petrochemical
3
39
283,280
17
446,950


Public Houses
9
1,848
21,418,715
1,217
29,942,850


Public Service Subjects
47
7,784
42,273,488
1,031
25,615,955


Quarries, Mines, etc.
255
246
1,219,606
64
1,589,251


Religious
466
5,004
26,316,547
618
14,968,000


Shops
57
40,237
266,255,564
4,970
121,908,266


Sporting Subjects
522
2,647
4,745,200
61
1,565,900


Statutory Undertaking
8
213
837,701
43
1,066,181


Total
7,676
158,734
860,666,871
19,923
495,130,583



  

Sector
(c) £35,000 to £49,999
(d) £50,000 to £64,999
(e) £65,000 to £89,999


No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value


Advertising
5
214,950
0
0
3
225,000


Care Facilities
295
12,389,910
203
11,603,750
226
17,134,850


Communications
10
447,300
10
562,050
8
626,600


Cultural
51
2,073,250
47
2,665,500
28
2,152,000


Education and Training
341
14,335,125
332
19,105,975
514
39,479,450


Garages and Petrol Stations
165
6,908,750
105
5,979,550
78
5,943,150


Health and Medical
173
7,254,300
124
7,078,000
129
9,988,050


Hotels
222
9,254,745
154
8,746,150
135
10,179,020


Industrial Subjects
1,699
70,836,200
995
56,483,450
964
73,260,550


Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.
330
13,706,150
193
10,884,700
180
13,486,100


Offices
1,535
63,748,150
873
49,399,750
798
60,497,550


Other
78
3,191,300
39
2,216,600
39
3,035,000


Petrochemical
4
158,500
4
217,000
4
286,000


Public Houses
408
16,902,150
153
8,626,310
169
12,783,500


Public Service Subjects
329
13,794,400
200
11,256,850
220
16,745,900


Quarries, Mines, etc.
38
1,626,192
12
703,100
26
1,974,168


Religious
131
5,375,500
46
2,574,950
18
1,326,600


Shops
1,810
75,179,200
1,086
61,944,750
1,132
85,834,750


Sporting Subjects
20
775,700
6
357,300
6
441,800


Statutory Undertaking
24
1,011,700
11
653,400
31
2,311,350


Total
7,668
319,183,472
4,593
261,059,135
4,708
357,711,388



  

Sector
(f) £90,000 to £119,999
(g) £120,000 to £249,999
(h) £250,000 to £499,999


No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value


Advertising
2
223,000
2
280,000
3
984,300


Care Facilities
122
12,453,200
125
20,048,500
7
2,250,000


Communications
11
1,112,600
10
1,778,900
10
3,480,400


Cultural
16
1,660,000
29
4,965,400
19
6,389,600


Education and Training
342
35,119,250
438
74,377,650
302
109,548,500


Garages and Petrol Stations
48
4,929,900
77
12,702,100
16
5,133,200


Health and Medical
100
10,368,150
138
22,721,800
48
16,482,000


Hotels
97
10,032,400
185
31,223,910
86
30,078,250


Industrial Subjects
675
69,237,350
1,088
182,427,150
388
131,475,200


Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.
110
11,406,950
185
31,102,450
125
41,318,910


Offices
537
55,375,161
830
139,755,900
423
148,500,514


Other
25
2,539,450
65
11,138,550
22
7,563,100


Petrochemical
5
528,000
16
2,918,500
19
6,747,000


Public Houses
87
8,875,100
89
14,504,300
13
3,611,600


Public Service Subjects
126
12,865,400
187
31,359,650
80
28,100,900


Quarries, Mines, etc.
11
1,131,550
25
4,145,489
12
3,979,602


Religious
8
810,500
14
2,322,700
0
0


Shops
817
84,625,000
1,572
265,524,776
611
210,349,900


Sporting Subjects
6
623,750
10
1,713,100
3
1,034,000


Statutory Undertaking
19
2,017,207
70
12,300,648
47
16,004,089


Total
3,164
325,933,918
5,155
867,311,473
2,234
773,031,065



  

Sector
(i) £500,000 to £999,999
(j) £1,000,000 and Above
Total (Included Zero Rated)


No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value
No.
Rateable Value


Advertising
0
0
0
0
1,985
8,405,189


Care Facilities
1
616,000
0
0
3,163
102,734,470


Communications
7
4,711,000
1
1,109,000
377
15,104,805


Cultural
1
506,000
6
9,920,000
1,366
41,822,620


Education and Training
186
124,516,200
28
63,137,000
3,934
501,242,865


Garages and Petrol Stations
2
1,242,000
0
0
4,527
69,494,075


Health and Medical
19
13,342,600
34
84,876,500
3,117
196,752,515


Hotels
36
23,156,000
18
26,485,000
4,641
181,046,609


Industrial Subjects
157
106,931,500
77
133,102,500
45,363
1,110,158,615


Leisure, Entertainment, Caravans etc.
52
32,793,000
6
7,617,000
19,099
228,956,035


Offices
177
121,254,500
124
226,916,000
37,210
1,133,395,192


Other
14
10,123,950
13
21,081,600
12,891
84,944,980


Petrochemical
10
6,954,500
22
93,863,000
143
112,402,730


Public Houses
0
0
0
0
3,993
116,664,525


Public Service Subjects
38
25,591,200
38
103,673,500
10,080
311,277,243


Quarries, Mines, etc.
11
7,921,011
0
0
700
24,289,969


Religious
0
0
0
0
6,305
53,694,797


Shops
235
158,058,006
171
276,488,380
52,698
1,606,168,592


Sporting Subjects
1
598,500
4
7,261,000
3,286
19,116,250


Statutory Undertaking
36
25,603,550
31
651,410,000
533
713,215,826


Total
983
663,919,517
573
1,706,940,480
215,411
6,630,887,902



  Notes:

  1. In the tables, No. is the number of properties

  2. The information given is from valuation roll data as at 1 January 2011

  3. The information given is before the impact of valuation appeals. Actual rates bills will also depend on eligibility for business rates relief.

  4. Zero rated properties and properties with a rateable value less than £750,000 are included for completeness

  5. Sector is as defined by the Scottish Assessors.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total rateable value and (b) number of rateable properties will be in 2011-12, broken down by (i) sector and (ii) bands of (A) more than £750,000 but not exceeding £1,000,000, (B) more than £1,000,000 but not exceeding £1,099,999, (C) more than £1,099,999 but not exceeding £1,265,000, (D) more than £1,265,000 but not exceeding £2,140,000 and (e) more than £2,140,000.

John Swinney: The total number of properties and combined rateable values of all properties broken down by band and sector is as follows.

  

Sector
Zero Rated
£750,000 or Less
(a) £750,001 to £1,000,000


No.
Total Rateable Value
No.
Total Rateable Value
No.
Total Rateable Value


Advertising
0
-
1,985
8,405,189
0
-


Care facilities
5
0
3,158
102,734,470
0
-


Communications
11
0
364
13,086,805
1
909,000


Cultural
23
0
1,337
31,902,620
0
-


Education and training
8
0
3,852
398,946,865
46
39,159,000


Garages and petrol stations
9
0
4,518
69,494,075
0
-


Health and medical
9
0
3,067
105,800,015
7
6,076,000


Hotels
9
0
4,606
147,757,609
8
6,804,000


Industrial subjects
68
0
45,172
938,025,615
50
43,030,500


Leisure, entertainment, caravans etc.
41
0
19,043
213,651,035
9
7,688,000


Offices
16
0
37,016
860,018,192
54
46,461,000


Other
6,110
0
6,762
58,748,180
6
5,115,200


Petrochemicals
3
0
114
14,952,230
4
3,587,500


Public houses
9
0
3,984
116,664,525
0
-


Public service subjects
47
0
9,986
199,478,743
11
10,125,000


Quarries, mines etc
255
0
441
20,769,144
4
3,520,825


Religious
466
0
5,839
53,694,797
0
-


Shops
57
0
52,408
1,276,107,712
69
60,572,500


Sporting subjects
522
0
2,760
11,855,250
0
-


Statutory undertaking
8
0
481
50,585,576
14
12,220,250


Total
7,676
0
206,893
4,692,678,647
283
245,268,775



  

Sector
(b) £1,000,001 to £1,099,999
(c) £1,100,000 to £1,265,000
(d) £1,265,001 to £2,140,000


No.
Total Rateable Value
No.
Total Rateable Value
No.
Total Rateable Value


Advertising
0
-
0
-
0
-


Care facilities
0
-
0
-
0
-


Communications
0
-
1
1,109,000
0
-


Cultural
0
-
2
2,450,000
3
4,470,000


Education and training
3
3,190,000
2
2,416,000
13
19,770,000


Garages and petrol stations
0
-
0
-
0
-


Health and medical
1
1,010,000
4
4,657,000
13
21,324,000


Hotels
2
2,055,000
6
7,043,000
8
12,645,000


Industrial subjects
10
10,500,000
17
19,901,000
33
53,483,500


Leisure, entertainment, caravans etc.
1
1,075,000
2
2,442,000
3
4,100,000


Offices
21
21,957,000
21
24,897,000
53
89,117,000


Other
1
1,077,600
5
5,899,000
4
6,667,000


Petrochemicals
1
1,056,000
2
2,295,000
8
12,942,000


Public houses
0
-
0
-
0
-


Public service subjects
2
2,065,000
7
8,194,000
14
23,526,500


Quarries, mines etc
0
-
0
-
0
-


Religious
0
-
0
-
0
-


Shops
15
16,013,500
25
29,472,000
99
159,541,000


Sporting subjects
0
-
1
1,100,000
2
3,911,000


Statutory undertaking
0
-
3
3,517,000
7
11,483,000


Total
57
59,999,100
98
115,392,000
260
422,980,000



  

Sector
(e) More than £2,140,000
Total (Including Zero Rated)


No.
Total Rateable Value
No.
Total Rateable Value


Advertising
0
-
1,985
8,405,189


Care facilities
0
-
3,163
102,734,470


Communications
0
-
377
15,104,805


Cultural
1
3,000,000
1,366
41,822,620


Education and training
10
37,761,000
3,934
501,242,865


Garages and petrol stations
0
-
4,527
69,494,075


Health and medical
16
57,885,500
3,117
196,752,515


Hotels
2
4,742,000
4,641
181,046,609


Industrial subjects
13
45,218,000
45,363
1,110,158,615


Leisure, entertainment, caravans etc.
0
-
19,099
228,956,035


Offices
29
90,945,000
37,210
1,133,395,192


Other
3
7,438,000
12,891
84,944,980


Petrochemicals
11
77,570,000
143
112,402,730


Public houses
0
-
3,993
116,664,525


Public service subjects
13
67,888,000
10,080
311,277,243


Quarries, mines etc
0
-
700
24,289,969


Religious
0
-
6,305
53,694,797


Shops
25
64,461,880
52,698
1,606,168,592


Sporting subjects
1
2,250,000
3,286
19,116,250


Statutory undertaking
20
635,410,000
533
713,215,826


Total
144
1,094,569,380
215,411
6,630,887,902



  Notes:

  1. In the tables, No. is the number of properties

  2. The information given is from valuation roll data as at 1 January 2011

  3. The information given is before the impact of valuation appeals. Actual rates bills will also depend on eligibility for business rates relief.

  4. Zero rated properties and properties with a rateable value less than £750,000 are included for completeness

  5. Sector is as defined by the Scottish Assessors.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total amount of non-domestic rates payable by all retail properties with a rateable value in excess of £750,000 is in 2010-11.

John Swinney: The combined rateable value of all non-domestic properties classified by the Scottish Assessors as "shops" with an individual rateable value over £750,000 is £330 million. For these properties in 2010-11, the business rates bill is estimated to be £137 million. In 2011-12, before application of the large retail property supplement, the rates bill for these properties is estimated to be £143 million. Both estimates are before the impact of appeals and reliefs.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the non-domestic rates income would be in 2011-12, broken down by category of rateable value (RV), if the following supplements were applied for properties with the following RV: 2.5p for more than £750,000 but not exceeding £1,000,000; 5p for more than £1,000,000 but not exceeding £1,099,999; 10p for more than £1,099,999 but not exceeding £1,265,000; 12p for more than £1,265,000 but not exceeding £2,140,000, and 15p for more than £2,140,000.

John Swinney: It is not possible to provide fully accurate estimates because appeals and reliefs will reduce expected income. However, the additional income generated in 2011-12 over and above the large business supplement, before taking account of appeals and reliefs, is estimated to be as follows.

  

If a supplement of 2.5p were paid by all property with a rateable value of more than £750,000, but not exceeding £1,000,000
£4.4 million


If a supplement of 5p were paid by all property with a rateable value of more than £1,000,000, but not exceeding £1,099,999
£2.6 million


If a supplement of 10p were paid by all property with a rateable value of more than £1,100,000, but not exceeding £1,265,000 
£10.7 million


If a supplement of 12p were paid by all property with a rateable value of more than £1,265,001 but not exceeding £2,140,000
£47.8 million


If a supplement of 15p were paid by all property with a rateable value of more £2,140,000
£156.5 million

Non-Domestic Rates

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the properties subject to the proposed large retail supplement is appealing the 2010 revaluation figure.

John Swinney: Information on whether an individual retail property with a rateable value of over £750,000, and therefore liable for the large retail supplement, is under appeal is not held centrally but is available on the Scottish Assessors’ website at www.saa.gov.uk .

Nutrition

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31976 by Adam Ingram on 5 March 2010, what percentage of schools has extended the free fruit scheme beyond primary one and two pupils, broken down by local authority area.

Adam Ingram: This information can be found in the School Meals Survey published in June 2010 and can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/06095048/0 .

Planning

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation regulates the charges that a local authority can levy on the submission of (a) outline and (b) full planning applications.

John Swinney: The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as amended, set down the fees for the submission for both planning permission in principle and full planning applications.

  Where an application requires to be advertised under regulation 20 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 then the cost of publishing that notice has to be recovered from the applicant and procedures in this regard are specified in the Town and Country Planning (Charges for Publication of Notices) (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

Planning

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the level of charge that a local authority can levy on the submission of (a) outline and (b) full planning applications is set by regulation and, if so, when the regulations were last updated.

John Swinney: Planning application fees are set by Scottish ministers and planning authorities have no discretion to waive or alter fees. The fees for the submission for both planning permission in principle and full planning applications are set down in the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 as amended. These regulations were last amended in August 2010 by SSI 2010/280.

  Where an application requires to be advertised under regulation 20 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 then the cost of publishing that notice has to be recovered from the applicant and procedures in this regard are specified in the Town and Country Planning (Charges for Publication of Notices) (Scotland) Regulations 2009.

Prescription Charges

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost to the NHS will be when prescription charges are reduced to zero in April 2011.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the abolition of prescription charges will have on the NHS budget.

Shona Robison: The abolition of prescription charges in Scotland is being fully funded by the Scottish Government and as such will be achieved at no cost to the NHS. The Scottish Government estimates that the final step in abolition on 1 April this year will increase costs from £32 million to £57 million. The £57 million funding has been included within NHS boards’ baseline budgets for 2011-12.

  Abolishing prescription charges will remove a financial barrier to better health management for many people in Scotland, particularly those on low incomes and who may need regular medicines. Prescription charges can prevent some people from collecting some or all of their medication, and may even deter them from seeing their GP when ill.

Prescriptions

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for Ritalin have been issued in each year since 2007.

Shona Robison: Ritalin   is one of a number of products containing methylphenidate hydrochloride used in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

  Comprehensive information including the official statistics on the number of items for methylphenidate hydrochloride (including Ritalin), dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors, can be found on the ISD Scotland website at www.isdscotland.org/isd/3588.html.

Rail Network

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38733 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011, what information ScotRail is contractually obliged to provide regarding the Motherwell/Coatbridge Central/Cumbernauld route and whether the Scottish Government will provide this.

Keith Brown: The operational information ScotRail is required to supply Transport Scotland is set out in Appendix 3 to Schedule 13.2 of the Franchise document. A copy of the ScotRail Franchise Agreement is in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 37777) and the Public Register version of the Franchise Agreement is available on Transport Scotland’s website:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-franchise/public-register/contents.

  The nearest relevant information that we can provide is as follows:

  Services on the Motherwell/Cumbernauld route were suspended for several days in November and December 2010. Of the days when the line operated, in the four-week period to 11 December 2010, 8% of services were cancelled, and in the four-week period to 8 January 2011, 7% were cancelled.

Scottish Government Agencies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, whether it will publish in its staff directory the specific functions of each director and deputy director on the Infrastructure Investment Group.

John Swinney: Following a major restructuring exercise within the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government’s Business Directory has been extensively updated and staff at all grades have been asked to ensure that their functions are accurately recorded on the business directory.

Secure Units

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many absconds from adult medium secure units there have been in each year since 2007.

Shona Robison: There are two adult medium secure units in Scotland, the Orchard Clinic, Edinburgh and Rowanbank, Glasgow. The Memorandum of Procedure on Restricted Patients defines an abscond as "An abscond will have taken place when a restricted patient is absent without authority from a ward, work placement, open supervision (i.e. supervision which does not require the use of physical restraints nor continued oversight), or exceeds his or her authorised suspension of detention, or makes away from an escort". An abscond may be for a brief period of time or for longer.

  There have been a small number of absconds from these units as follows:

  2007: Two from the Orchard Clinic, 2008: One each from the Orchard Clinic and Rowanbank, 2009: One from the Orchard Clinic, 2010: Two from the Orchard Clinic.

  The Memorandum of Procedure on Restricted Patients defines an escape as "An escape will have taken place when a restricted patient breaches a physical barrier, for example, breaks out of a locked ward".

  No people have escaped from either the Orchard Clinic or Rowanbank in the years 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010.

Sexual Abuse

Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what referral paths there are for professional psychological therapy or counselling for trauma experienced by victims of sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse and whether the service provision differs according to gender.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsible for providing treatment for people who have experienced trauma, including access to psychological therapies. Referral to these services can be through a number of different routes including referral by a GP or self-referral.

  Since 2007, the Scottish Government has provided funding of £3.8 million through the National Strategy for Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse to help address the needs of adult survivors of childhood abuse. This includes funding to statutory and voluntary organisations to develop a wide range of services for survivors including preventative work, support and counselling. In 2009, after identifying a need for improved services for men, specific funding was provided to develop services for male survivors. Further details can be found at www.survivorscotland.org.uk.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in monitoring the reduction of smoking in psychiatric hospitals.

Shona Robison: NHS Health Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government will shortly be publishing guidance which will support and encourage a move towards smoke-free environments within mental health settings at a pace which suits the services’ particular needs and circumstances.

  The guidance offers a step-by-step approach to support the process of engagement with all concerned, including staff and patients who are most directly affected and which will ultimately lead to a reduction in smoking.

  NHS Health Scotland will undertake a one-off exercise which will provide a snapshot of the status of establishments at the time of the introduction of the guidance. Measures will also be put in place to review progress over time.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in monitoring the reduction of smoking in hospital grounds.

Shona Robison: The decision to move to a completely smoke-free environment, including hospital grounds, is a matter for individual boards to determine. It is their responsibility to ensure that their smoking policies are adhered to and monitored appropriately. I am aware that some NHS boards in their desire to be exemplars in health care have implemented smoking policies that go beyond the requirements of the national legislation. This is praiseworthy and provides a lead for others to follow.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33216 by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 April 2010, what assessment it has made of the effects on the health of children of passive smoking in cars.

Shona Robison: The smoking ban has undoubtedly reduced exposure to second-hand smoke among children in Scotland, because of greater awareness among their parents about the risks of second-hand smoke. The Scottish Government has not undertaken any formal assessment of the effects on children of passive smoking in cars to date. However, this specific topic is to be considered by the Research and Evaluation sub-group of the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control which has been set up to identify gaps in research knowledge in relation to tobacco control.

Sport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Public Health and Sport will commission research into the impact of negative role models in football on young people who play football.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the very positive role football clubs and players have in their communities across Scotland in helping to inspire young people to participate in not just football but all sports. That is why we are investing in a range of initiatives and we are developing those to ensure we are maximising our investments in football and sport.

  You may find the following piece of research, commissioned by sportscotland, of interest Sporting Success, Role Models and Participation: A Policy Related Review. This was published in 2009 and can be found at:

  http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/ChannelNavigation/Resources/TopicNavigation/Collections/ Research/Sporting+success+role+models+and+participation.htm.

Transport

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement by the First Minister’s official spokesman reported on the BBC News website on 30 May 2007 in reference to the Edinburgh trams project that "The government intends all expenditure planned for these projects or any alterations will continue to be used for public transport projects that tackle congestion, connectivity and journey times in Edinburgh and across Scotland" accurately reflected the Scottish Executive position on the matter.

Keith Brown: In May 2007, we were faced with the budgets set by the outgoing administration. Had the Parliament supported our plans to stop the tram project and use the funds for more pressing transport priorities then we could have easily reallocated budgets and brought forward alternative possibilities such as targeting early dualling opportunities for the A9.

  It is clear that if the Parliament had not decided in June 2007 that the Scottish Government should fund the Edinburgh Tram project up to £500 million then that would have freed up funding for other transport options, such as significant investment in much needed transport infrastructure improvements on the A9.

Transport

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the reported statement of a spokeswoman from Transport Scotland on 20 January 2011 that "if Parliament had thrown out the trams project, ministers would have brought forward alternative budget proposals to target early dualling of the A9" contradicts the reported statement by an official spokesman for the First Minister on 30 May 2007 that "The government intends all expenditure planned for these projects or any alterations will continue to be used for public transport projects that tackle congestion, connectivity and journey times in Edinburgh and across Scotland" and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Keith Brown: No. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38962 on 4 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Transport

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the reported statement by a spokeswoman from Transport Scotland on 20 January 2011 that "if Parliament had thrown out the trams project, ministers would have brought forward alternative budget proposals to target early dualling of the A9" accurately reflects the Scottish Executive position on the matter.

Keith Brown: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38962 on 4 February 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Transport

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, if the reported statement by a spokeswoman from Transport Scotland on 20 January 2011 that "if Parliament had thrown out the trams project, ministers would have brought forward alternative budget proposals to target early dualling of the A9" accurately reflects the Scottish Executive position on the matter, when this position was first announced to the Parliament.

Keith Brown: In his statement to the Parliament in June 2007, Stewart Stevenson MSP, the then Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, made it clear that the Scottish Government opposed the Edinburgh Tram project which represented a significant risk to Scottish taxpayers money, and that there were other more important priorities for the use of funds on that scale. The full parliamentary statement can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/ORSearch/ReportView.aspx?r=4735&mode=html.

Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38673 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011, when it expects to have completed its considerations of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s proposals for the modernisation of the Glasgow subway.

Keith Brown: The modernisation of the Glasgow Subway is clearly an important issue, which we must consider with due care. I will report the outcome of our scrutiny when it is complete.

Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37769 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011, how much has been set aside in its 2011-12 budget as a funding contribution toward Fastlink.

Keith Brown: Budgets at that detailed level are not disclosed but any contribution towards the cost of Fastlink would come from the £25.1 million Support for Sustainable and Active Travel Budget.

Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37769 by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011, whether the funding contribution set aside in its 2011-12 budget represents the total contribution it expects to make toward Fastlink and, if not, whether it will provide details of funding contributions in future financial years.

Keith Brown: We have published indicative high-level budget figures for the years 2012-13 to 2014-15. The details of the budgets for these years will be decided after the May 2011 elections.

Voluntary Sector

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether youth groups and clubs requiring disclosure checks will have direct access to the electronic Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme system as stated on its website and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Adam Ingram: When the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme goes live on 28 February 2011 all applications and disclosures will be on paper format only.

  Release 2 of the system is scheduled to be deployed in summer 2011. This will include the electronic interface. Online accounts will be made available to any organisation, for paid workers or volunteers, if they are a registered body with Disclosure Scotland. Online accounts will be rolled out to the registered bodies as part of a managed process.

  Voluntary sector organisations that use the services of The Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS) will not be able to use the on-line process directly but will use a parallel service especially designed for them instead. CRBS will become electronically linked into the Disclosure Scotland process which is expected to speed up processing times by at least two days.

Weather

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information was given to prevent motorists from entering gridlocked motorways such as the M73, M80 and M8 during the recent severe weather conditions.

Keith Brown: Information about the condition of the motorway network was provided to motorists via the Traffic Scotland website, Variable Message Signs (VMS) and the media as follows:

  (1) Pre-trip Advice

  On the advice of the police, the following Traffic Scotland News stories were displayed on the website:

  - "Police in the Strathclyde area are advising drivers to exercise extra caution and determine whether their journey could be postponed until weather conditions improve. If you do have to travel, then ensure you and your vehicle are adequately prepared."

  - "HIGH RISK OF DISRUPTION: Conditions for travel are extremely poor and deteriorating significantly. Police advise you to avoid travelling and consider postponing your journey until the weather conditions improve."

  - "Central Scotland strategic road network is affected by freezing conditions, only travel if absolutely necessary."

  - "Drivers should be aware that the M8 Westbound between Junction 1 and Junction 5 will likely remain closed until Wednesday. Further updates will be posted here."

  - "Transport Scotland is reissuing communication from the Police that motorists continue to only make essential journeys. The Police advice highlights that continued low temperatures are forecast"

  The following incidents were highlighted on the Traffic Scotland website:

  - "Multiple Breakdowns and Incidents have caused Major Congestion, Motorists are advised to avoid the route. (M8 between Glasgow & Edinburgh – both directions)"

  - "The Westbound M8 is currently closed between J1 (Hermiston Gate) and J4 (East Whitburn) due to adverse weather. The Westbound onslip at J2 and J3 are also closed."

  - "M80 Southbound closed from Crowwood Roundabout. Long Delays."

  Severe weather warnings received from the Met Office, images from CCTV cameras, details of Variable Message Sugn messages deployed on the network and details of network incidents (e.g. closures, queues and accidents) were also displayed.

  (2) In Trip Advice

  The following messages were also displayed on Variable Message Signs across the network throughout the period:

  - "AVOID ROAD TRAVEL"

  - "SEVERE WEATHER NETWORK CONGESTED SIGNIFICANT DELAYS"

  - "MAJOR CONGESTION M8 WESTBOUND AVOID ROUTE"

  - "MAJOR CONGESTION M8 EASTBOUND AVOID ROUTE"

  - "MAJOR CONGESTION M80 SOUTHBOUND AVOID ROUTE"

  - "MAJOR CONGESTION M80 NORTHBOUND AVOID ROUTE"

  - "SEVERE CONDITIONS AVOID M876 AND M8 J1-J5"

  - "SEVERE CONDITIONS AVOID M9 J11 - J10 AND M876"

  - "M73(N) CLOSED AFTER M74 J4 MARYVILLE"

  - "M73(S) CLOSED AFTER J2 BAILLIESTON LONG DELAYS"

  - "M73(S) CLOSED AFTER J2 BAILLIESTON USE DIVERSION"

  In addition, throughout the period, Trafficlink (an independent travel news broadcaster who are located in the Traffic Scotland Control Centre) were kept fully up to date by the Traffic Scotland Control Room staff and the police and were broadcasting the message for motorists not to travel. Extra broadcasts were also issued on all radio stations to re-enforce this message.

  We have acknowledged that the flow of information between operational partners and communication to members of the public during the severe weather conditions on 6 and 7 December 2010 could have been better. We have established a multi agency response team approach to co-ordinate the flow of information into the Traffic Scotland Control Centre, to ensure that timely and accurate messages are issued to the public through our Variable Message Signs, the website, the Traffic Scotland Customer Care line and operational partners such as Traveline Scotland and Trafficlink.

  We also identified the need to provide high level warning messages to help guide the decisions of the travelling public. These messages have been agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and Transport Scotland to provide a nationally agreed context for the detail of the warning messages to be used by local Police forces when they issue travel warnings for roads. The decision on when travel warnings are issued remains the responsibility of the Police forces. Transport Scotland (via the Traffic Scotland system of VMS, media broadcasts and website updates) will provide operational support to the police forces in disseminating these messages and providing operational response support.

Weather

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the updating of the Traffic Scotland website to prevent motorists from joining the M73, M80 and M8 during the recent severe weather conditions.

Keith Brown: The Traffic Scotland website is updated in real time once information has been validated by the Traffic Scotland operator. During the recent severe weather conditions, information about the M73, M80 and M8 was regularly updated to reflect the changing road and weather conditions.